Cable expects Roethlisberger

News, notes and quotes from the Raiders open locker room and Tom Cable’s post-walkthrough press briefing:

— On a weekly television appearance on a local Sunday night postgame show, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha talked about having to prepare for two quarterbacks for this week’s game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.

Raiders coach Tom Cable seemed to have little doubt as to which one will be the starter.

“All indications are Ben (Roethlisberger) will be back,” Cable said.

The Steelers, who lost overtime games to Kansas City and Balitmore over the past two weeks, turned to San Leandro High School and Oregon product Dennis Dixon against Baltimore. Dixon started the season as the No. 3 quarterback and was elevated to No. 2 when Charlie Batch was lost fo rthe season to a wrist injury.

When it was determined Roethlisberger had not sufficiently recovered from concussion symptoms sustained against the Chiefs, Dixon played against Balitmore and his 24-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter had the Steelers in position to win.

However, the Pittsburgh defense allowed the Ravens to drive for the tie at regulation, and Dixon’s overtime interception to rookie Paul Kruger against a zone blitz set up Baltimore’s winning field goal.

— Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski talked glowingly about returning to Pittsburgh, noting it was the third time he had started in his home town. Gradkowski was a star quarterback at Seton-La Salle High School in the city and his father is a longtime employee in the business department of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“It’s always exciting getting back to Pittsburgh,” Gradkowski said. “My whole family’s from Pittsburgh and grew up watching the Steelers.”

Gradkowski remembers going to games at Three Rivers Stadium and said his family and friends could number 100, although fortunately he’s not entrusted with the ticket details.

“They already told me, `Hey, don’t worry about it, we’ll find our own tickets,’ ” Gradkowski said. “That’s good they know I am thinking about a lot of things, that I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.”

Foremost among them is having some success in Pittsburgh beyond the glory days of high school.

Gradkowski started the season finale for Cleveland last season in Pittsburgh, and had a start as a rookie in 2007 with Tampa Bay. In the two games, Gradkowski was 25-for-50 for 193 yards, no touchdowns, five interceptions and was sacked eight times. His Heinz Field quarterback rating is 20.3 and his teams lost by a combined 51-3.

— If finally getting into the end zone is a relief for Darrius Heyward-Bey, he wasn’t showing it.

“Tell you the truth, I really haven’t looked at it that way,” Heyward-Bey said. “It’s like, a touchdown was what we needed at the time, and now if I can help out the team more, it’ll be great.”

Cable said Monday the Raiders were very close to connecting on plays which could have gone for big yardage and sustained drives. Toward that end, following a walkthrough, quarterbacks, receivers and running backs were still on the field, working on their timing.

“We’re an inch away from being a good passing offense,” Heyward-Bey said. “We understand that. We wish we weren’t an inch away. We wish we were hitting those. It’s positive. It’s a good thing to look at. Going into these last five games, we hope we just hit those big plays and go into the offseason with a good feeling.”

— With Trevor Scott starting at weak side linebacker, it meant fewer snaps for Thomas Howard, although Howard did get some work on the strong side and on the weak side when Scott was rushing the passer.

Cable, however, did not dispel the notion that Howard’s game could use some work.

“I think you always try to do what gives you a good chance to succeed, so if you want to improve an area you make a move like we did, and certainly Trevor was able to go in and back it up,” Cable said.

In 2007, Howard had a breakout year with six interceptions, including touchdown returns of 44 and 66 yards. In his last 29 games, Howard has one interception and both he and Kirk Morrison have occasionally had problems disengaging from blockers against the run.

— Gary Russell, the fullback who returned one kickoff 17 yards against Dallas and appeared to almost go down voluntarily when he hit a wall, will get another crack at it against his former team, Cable said. Russell scored the first touchdown of the Steelers Super Bowl win over Arizona on a 1-yard run.

— Cable said defensive end Greg Ellis, who left the Dallas game with knee swelling, and running back Justin Fargas, who has a stinger, are questionable to face Pittsburgh.

Cable said the short week, combined with playing on artificial surface probably took its toll on Ellis.

— JaMarcus Russell has not been available to the media since losing his job to Gradkowski. As for how Russell is faring in his new role, Cable said, “I don’t really see any change whatsoever. He’s working, doing what he’s asked to do. He’s preparing like normal. So I wouldn’t say there was any change or anything I’ve noticed.”

— Nick Miller update _ getting out of a protective boot this week, Raiders will attempt to determine if it’s realistic to get him rehabbed fast enough so he can be of some service this season.

correction… it was not a catch… his hands missed it and he trapped it against his chest… rather be lucky than good…

truth is: Hey-Bey can’t catch… i’m not sure he ever will…

dump him and his salary and move on…

Russell is not and never will be the answer for the Raiders… you can’t teach self respect… you can’t teach work ethic… you can’t teach JR…

dump him and his salary and move on…

McTiptoe has reached his limit… he is simply not a pro-caliber running back…

dump him and his salary and move on…

Morrison is not and never will be a good middle linebacker… he can’t shed blocks… can’t stay in his lane… is not intinidating in any sense of the word…

he is and has been playing out of position… don’t bother resigning him…

Kelly and Warren are minimum acceptable DTs… there you have it… minimum acceptable, yet highly paid…

dump them and move on…

the entire right side of the line (plus center) is minimum acceptable… need to upgrade… this past draft would have been an excellent opportunity…

at quarterback there is no-one on the roster now who is capable of leading this team next year…

Cable isn’t the guy… but unless we bring in a Gruden, a Cowher or a Fisher (if available)… we may as well stay with Cable…

the ZBS sucks… has always sucked… and will always suck…

we have a really schitty GM… that probably should be fixed first…

this past years draft was the absolute worst draft in Raider history… (yes, you kind gentlemen are welcome to nominate other years)…

bottom line…

your defense will never be good without a top-notch run-stopping MLB… intercepting passes is not the primary function of a MLB…

your offense will never be good without a mature, intelligent QB… chucking the ball 60 yards while consuming a cheeseburger should not be the main qualification one looks for in a quarterback…

i could go on, but why bother…

the season was over when Russell reported to camp with a fat ass… think about this: we have a QB (Jacarcass) who can’t take snaps from under center because he is too fat and clumbsy to turn around and move away from the line…

i am so disgusted and discouraged with this team…

exlaraiderseasonticketholder

As for how Russell is faring in his new role, Cable said, “I don’t really see any change whatsoever. He’s working, doing what he’s asked to do. He’s preparing like normal. So I wouldn’t say there was any change or anything I’ve noticed.”
——————————————-
In other words, he has not learned a Fricken Thing!

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

In 1988 Davis ordered Shanahan to play Willie Gault, a former Olympic sprinter, ahead of Brown. Shanahan refused because Brown’s superiority to Gault was so obvious in practice. “That was the biggest fight we ever had,” says Shanahan. “No one had ever stood up to him. Everyone there is afraid of him, so that’s the behavior he expects.”

aig

Cable said, “I don’t really see any change whatsoever. He’s working, doing what he’s asked to do. He’s preparing like normal. So I wouldn’t say there was any change or anything I’ve noticed.”
————

I guess that means he aint putting the extra effort like showing up on days off and outworking or even matching Frye’s and Grad’s dedication.

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

Nor are the coaches immune to Davis’s snooping. Shell says two or three unnamed assistants “backstabbed” him before his firing. “You’d go into staff meetings,” says one former assistant, “and the whole thing was orchestrated for people to turn on each other. And the more you discredited people to Al, the better off you were.” According to one former assistant, Davis would use film sessions to criticize play-calling. During reviews of plays that failed, Davis would solicit an opinion from a coach who wasn’t involved in the call, and that assistant would have no choice but to criticize his coworker.
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Can you say Randy Hanson?

Do you see the pattern here fellers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw Raider75

This is f’n stupid…

– Gary Russell, the fullback who returned one kickoff 17 yards against Dallas and appeared to almost go down voluntarily when he hit a wall, will get another crack at it against his former team, Cable said. Russell scored the first touchdown of the Steelers Super Bowl win over Arizona on a 1-yard run.

This is f’n sad…

As for how Russell is faring in his new role, Cable said, “I don’t really see any change whatsoever. He’s working, doing what he’s asked to do. He’s preparing like normal. So I wouldn’t say there was any change or anything I’ve noticed.”

This is f’n scary…

Gradkowski started the season finale for Cleveland last season in Pittsburgh, and had a start as a rookie in 2007 with Tampa Bay. In the two games, Gradkowski was 25-for-50 for 193 yards, no touchdowns, five interceptions and was sacked eight times. His Heinz Field quarterback rating is 20.3 and his teams lost by a combined 51-3.

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

But can a team thrive in a workplace filled with confusion and paranoia, one in which team officials, according to Moss, Jamie Williams and other former players, eavesdrop on interviews and locker room conversations and report back to Davis? “Players say the walls have ears,” Skrepenak says. “I think Al can find out information, because locker room talk always got back to the head coach.”
Nor are the coaches immune to Davis’s snooping. Shell says two or three unnamed assistants “backstabbed” him before his firing. “You’d go into staff meetings,” says one former assistant, “and the whole thing was orchestrated for people to turn on each other. And the more you discredited people to Al, the better off you were.” According to one former assistant, Davis would use film sessions to criticize play-calling. During reviews of plays that failed, Davis would solicit an opinion from a coach who wasn’t involved in the call, and that assistant would have no choice but to criticize his coworker.
In such an environment ITS TOUGH TO SELL A TEAM CONCEPT. “We have to look at the organizations that have won Super Bowls in recent years and how they got that way,” says Raiders defensive tackle Chester McGlockton. “Then, from our owner on down, we have to get our house in order.”

S.I. 1996

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

Jerry

Your reporting leaves a lot to be desired.

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

Jerry

Being local, I realize you’re more vulnerable to Davis/Herrera whims than a national outlet. But, the bs you’re reporting is as irrelevant as tits on a boar.

http://sportmag.us/images/Lester_Hayes_November_1981.jpg RaiderDogg

JaMarcus Russell has not been available to the media since losing his job to Gradkowski. As for how Russell is faring in his new role, Cable said, “I don’t really see any change whatsoever. He’s working, doing what he’s asked to do. He’s preparing like normal. So I wouldn’t say there was any change or anything I’ve noticed.”

This is really disappointing to read. Fuk.

snnyjcbs

You people are beyond stupid, there is no word strong enough to describe how dence you are. Ya, Al Davis is in watching game film with the team and coaches, give me a brake. You now what I heard from a source?, that is not Cable on the field on Sundays, really, it is Al Davis that has under went surgery to look like Cable. And when they show Al Davis in his box it is reallt Cable not Davis, you people kill me, JFK anyone ha ha.

17 Bob Trey O

Yep, just another happy day in Raiderland.
“Cable said Monday the Raiders were very close to connecting on plays which could have gone for big yardage and sustained drives.”
“We’re an inch away from being a good passing offense,” Heyward-Bey said.
I guess we should quit playing this JV football and switch to horseshoes; but come to think of the plays I’ve seen this season that’s a really big “inch”, more like a fathom.

http://sportmag.us/images/Lester_Hayes_November_1981.jpg RaiderDogg

“Cable said Monday the Raiders were very close to connecting on plays which could have gone for big yardage and sustained drives.”

Which plays were those?

http://CableBumaye 909RaiderLifer

“We’re an inch away from being a good passing offense.”

To paraphrase an old Richard Pryor joke:

(Pryor’s girl friend talking.)”You want some strange? If you had another inch, you’d find some strange right here. Mother effer.”

“Cable said Monday the Raiders were very close to connecting on plays which could have gone for big yardage and sustained drives.”

Which plays were those?
………..

They were during Halftime.

Florida Pete

test

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

During his 33 years with the Raiders, Davis, 66, whose title is president of the general partner, has built some of the most successful teams in NFL history, including three Super Bowl champions. But he has also made moves, especially in recent years, that have compromised the Raiders’ prospects for success and given the organization an aura of paranoia and divisiveness. The environment he has created undermined the Raiders during a six-game losing streak at the end of the 1995 season. As a result of that slump, the Raiders missed the playoffs for the third time in four years and the seventh time in 10. Many current and former Raiders players, coaches and administrators believe the blame for these years of failure lies at the top.
“The word is spreading about the Raiders and Al Davis,” says Seattle Seahawks fullback Steve Smith, a Raider from 1987 to ’93. “The way they collapsed last year was typical. The Raiders have had more talent than any other team the last 10 years. They should have won at least three Super Bowls during that time, but they didn’t because Al screwed everything up.”

-S.I. 1996
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Do you see the pattern here fellers?

Florida Pete

test…

http://CableBumaye 909RaiderLifer

Dogg…

There was the ONE play I remember from the Dallas game, where DHB was wide open on a crossing route, but the “Pop Gun” was under pressure from the rush and had to hurry the throw, and missed him badly.

Assuming the throw is on target, and DHB actually makes the catch. It would have been six.

Other than that one, I to am also stumped to recall another play that was close to being “big.”

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

Pete

I read you 5×5, over

Florida Pete

it won’t let me post a comment…

it doesn’t even say it’s under review…

and it even tells me that i’ve said that…

what’s with this blog…

Florida Pete

dammit…

4evaRaider

lmao

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

What are you trying to say Pete. spell the offending words differently, maybe.

Florida Pete

Heyward Bey says:

tell you the truth, i really haven’t looked at it that way, it’s like, a touchdown was what we needed at the time, and now if I can help out the team more, it’ll be great.

Ace Sports Reporter Florida Pete:

hey that’s great hey-bey…

but tell me… when you missed it with your hands and understood that you had fu**ed it up…

and then it bounces off your chest and into your hands…

did you schitt???

please… in your own words…

(crickets and a glare… i think he’s upset)

Florida Pete

aha !!!

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

Davis, who did not return several calls to be interviewed for this story, is a man of contradictions, so the Raiders are a team of incongruities. An example: On one hand, most Raiders employees live in fear of Davis; conversely, discipline barely exists. “There’s so much confusion there, it’s unbelievable,” says Greg Skrepenak, a Raiders tackle for the last three of their 13 years in Los Angeles and last season when the team returned to its old base, in Oakland. Skrepenak signed with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in February. “The problems were selfishness and a lack of cohesiveness. You had guys walking out of meetings, coming in late or not showing up at all. There were guys talking back to coaches and coaches yelling at each other. You’re never really sure where the decisions are coming from, and it seems like everything’s a big secret. Ultimately the decisions fall on Al Davis.”

There was the ONE play I remember from the Dallas game, where DHB was wide open on a crossing route, but the “Pop Gun” was under pressure from the rush and had to hurry the throw, and missed him badly.

Assuming the throw is on target, and DHB actually makes the catch. It would have been six.

Other than that one, I to am also stumped to recall another play that was close to being “big.”

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maybe they were counting all the plays where BHB ran down field… you know… FAR…

Crimedog

You regulars are a pathetic bunch.

Florida Pete

i can say this…

Al Davis has a feduciary responsiblity to the other shareholders… and it is this responsibility that Al Davis is not upholding…

those other shareholders are the only ones who can get rid of Al Davis…

it would require a lawsuit, of course, and it would be helpful if all the minority owners signed on for the lawsuit…

but it can be done…

and if i were a minority shareholder, letters would be in the mail to get it organized…

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

Pete

Minority Shareholders and the NFL.

It’s one thing for a team like Jacksonville to be locked out of their home media market. The Jacksonville market is small.

But the Raiders, locked out of their home market with constant blackouts won’t fly with his NFL Partners. The SF-Bay Area media market is 5th largest in the US. Poor performance and attendance in this market has to downwardly affect the TV contracts given to the NFL, and ultimately hit his NFL partners where they feel it most, the pocketbook.

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

With the Raiders, Wolf took part in drafting such notable players as Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Ken Stabler, and Jack Tatum, all of whom would play for the Super Bowl XI Championship team in 1976, and later such players as Howie Long, Marcus Allen, and Matt Millen, all of the Super Bowl XVIII Championship team, the then-Los Angeles Raiders.

Nonetheless, in what has become an annual rite of spring, optimism abounds in Raiderland. Last year hopes were buoyed by the hiring of Mike White as coach and the switch to an offensive scheme featuring short timing patterns. This spring a draft-day deal that landed Ohio State tight end Rickey Dudley and the signing of two big-name free agents—defensive tackle Russell Maryland and cornerback Larry Brown, both former Dallas Cowboys—have allowed Oakland to put a happy spin on 1996.

Michael Nostradamus Silver 1996
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You feeling me?

islandraider

– JaMarcus Russell has not been available to the media since losing his job to Gradkowski. As for how Russell is faring in his new role, Cable said, “I don’t really see any change whatsoever. He’s working, doing what he’s asked to do. He’s preparing like normal. So I wouldn’t say there was any change or anything I’ve noticed.”
====================================================
What Cable was really saying:
‘What motivation does Russell really need. Come on guys. He pulls in millions, so I really don’t see any need for improvement or any other things he needs to do to get better. And neither does he’

After all, when you have the highest payroll in the NFL, guys either play or they don’t. That’s what they get paid for.

Glad to hear that Fargas may be out against Pittsburgh. Why not use Trevor Scott at MLB on running downs?

Terrapin

You girlys still backing Gradstinky? I took the opportunity to enjoy the holidays instead of watch that mockery. Read your comments afterwards …just as I figured …it was ugly.

Cable’s not a good HC. That’s the bottom line. MB not getting a carry all 1H? Gradstinky at QB? Scot replacing Howard? And he claims we’re almost there? He’s been saying that crap ALL DAMN SEASON!

Top 5 rushing team to trying to keep your head above 20. Passing offensive STILL at the bottom of the league. Getting blown out game after game. This is not what I call progress.

jamesfaw

florida pete do you watch football. morrison may not be a good fit at mlb but he is one of the best in the league.about dhb…. the guy is a rookie. do you know what that means. give him a chance. we gave jr 2 years ( assuming we get rid of him this coming season which would be a good idea considering next season will likely be uncapped which means we can drop jr and not have to worry as much about cap penalties. also tom cable is doing a hell of a job with the players he has. if not for a few under achievers on the team ( jr/dmc/and god forgive me for saying it…richard seymour ). the way i see it if we pick up a good right tackle in the draft we will be ready to run the ball with authority. a lot of people say gradkowski is not the answer at qb and a lot of people probably said the same thing about rich gannon. some people need to do some research before they spout off

jamesfaw

kirk is glad fargas might be out against pittsburgh. same question for you. do you watch football. fargas has more heart than any other rb……maybe any other player on the team. its amazing how quickly people forget about the 07 season. we had nothing going for us that season and we definitely didnt have a running game. what did fargas do he stepped up and finished the season with over 1000 yds.who would you rather start dmc so he can get injured again. hes like reggie bush, he will never be a great rb because he wants to be a receiver.michael bush is the only other viable option. frankly i dont understand why he didnt get more carries in that game against the cowboys. if fargas started the game ripping off 7 yard gains imagine what michael bush could have done with his power running.

terrapin do you have any idea how immature your acting. i know………..you used to be an nfl coach right ? thats why you think you know so much about it. i have an idea why dont you leave the coaching decisions to the coach. one day when your coaching the raiders (very unlikely ) then you pick the kick returner.

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

Didn’t Sean Payton ask Al Davis to kiss his arse?

jamesfaw

and quite frankly terrapin if you were to busy stuffing your face on thanksgiving to watch my team that tells the rest of us you must not be much of a fan. im 22 and i became a fan of the raiders after watching them in super bowl 37. ive spent the last 7 seasons watching them play like $hit but i always have faith that sooner or later they will turn it around. you have no problems. the difference between me and the rest of these whiny ass so called raider fans is i dont come on here and you guessed it……..WHINE !

Florida Pete

jamesfaw Says:
November 30th, 2009 at 6:39 pm

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james… you wrote this:

morrison may not be a good fit at mlb but he is one of the best in the league…

now i need to ask you a question???

do you know what the furk you are talking about???

jamesfaw

koolkell your just like the same raider hating morons on every other site. if you dont care for the raiders why the fu#k are you commenting on a raiders article.

http://www.Move2Alameda.com KoolKell

Some players showed disregard for authority. In one ugly incident, which occurred a few days before the Raiders’ 34-21 loss to the Cowboys on Nov. 19, defensive end Anthony Smith attacked his position coach, Floyd Peters, after Peters questioned his play during a meeting. Witnesses say the 6’3″, 265-pound Smith knocked the 60-year-old Peters to the ground while other players and coaches watched. Yet Smith started against Dallas, which disgusted many of his teammates.

Mike Silver 1996, S.I.
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Then you dummies ask why players just show up and collect their checks.

Florida Pete

jamesfaw Says:
November 30th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

michael bush is the only other viable option. frankly i dont understand why he didnt get more carries in that game against the cowboys. if fargas started the game ripping off 7 yard gains imagine what michael bush could have done with his power running.